It's always an exciting time for me when I need a new journal. I try not to get ahead of myself only halfway through my current book, looking for an excuse to buy a new and fun one, so most times I wait until I have about 10 pages left before I start shopping.

My decision to write was born out of a difficult time. I thought writing a few words every day might be good for me. To make it less of a chore, and more likely to happen, I decided on these parameters:

1. Not called journaling

2. Only 5 minutes a day minimum

3. No sentence structure required. Random words AOK.

Simply put, low investment, high upside.

This stack represents my non-journals since 2000.

I've written books filled with pages of absolute depression, anger, and confusion.

I've written books wrestling with my conviction to use only positive language, versus the truth of the negativity I was feeling.

I've written pages cheering myself on, and pages of trying to get through the day, one minutia at a time.

I've written pages where I am resting in the hope of God’s grace and mercy, and pages screaming ‘Where are you?’

I've literally written pages with only a few words, like ugly, tired, or grateful. And pages that started out disgruntled with “nothing to say”, that turned into some of the most poetic verse I cannot believe came from me.

This latest passing of the guard arrived with a bittersweet blend of reflection and feeling. At a time that I fully expected to “never come back from”, I read the words demonstrating true faith, healing, trust, and love.

It's like six years of my life grew up right before my eyes.

And the reason I know this?

Because I wrote it down. I have charted every season of fear, loss, growth, pain, setback, hope, and dream. And this one ended with a message to the next book -

You can't believe you survived. You can't believe every time you needed something and was convinced it wasn't going to be there; it was provided.

You learned to not hold too tightly to control, to perfectionism, to the past, and through severe growing pains and utter steadfast conviction to your faith and desire to be better; you grew. Love came back to you in its original form; you haven't lost anything.

My new book, how perfect it is for the season, literally.
February is about love. The color screams Spring and the Scripture is clear-
*“BUT THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE*”

I've told my story to myself. It is the most accurate and reliable reporter of my life because the ink is indelible in the face of a mind that loves to rewrite history.

So this is why I want you to write.

5 minutes a day

Any words or pictures or even dots

On paper

Try for five days, five weeks, or five months.

And keep.

PS: I could tell you all the science behind how writing by hand works to change your mind, but where's the fun in that coughgooglecough

Smiles,

Elisha

This is why I want you to write

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